State-owned chemicals major, Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Ltd (GACL) has today commissioned the hydrogen peroxide plant with a capacity of 14,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) at its existing Dahej complex in south Gujarat. The commissioning of the plant makes the company largest manufacturer of hydrogen peroxide in India with a total capacity of 39,080 TPA.
The company informed that it had commissioned the new hydrogen peroxide facility at Dahej complex on 100 per cent basis on June 24, 2011.
"The commissioning of this plant will boost both top line and bottom line of the company. Going forward, the hydrogen peroxide group is expected to contribute about 15 per cent share to the total sales of the company. We have successfully commissioned this plant ahead of schedule," said Guruprasad Mohapatra, managing director, GACL.
The plant, built at a cost of Rs 98.25 crore is based on the technology supplied by Sweden-based Chematur Engineering AB. With the commissioning of the new facility, the total production capacity has increased from earlier 25,080 TPA to 39,080 TPA.
The company intends to sell the hydrogen peroxide mainly in the domestic market. "There is a huge demand for hydrogen peroxide in the domestic market especially as an agent in the bond paper and print paper industry. Hydrogen peroxide is an environmentally friendly agent, even better than chlorine," Mohapatra told Business Standard.
This is the third plant for the company to make hydrogen peroxide at its Dahej complex.
With commissioning of the latest plant, GACL has become the largest producer of hydrogen peroxide in India, while other major players in the Indian market include Hindustan Organic Chemicals Limited (HOCL), National Peroxide and Asian Peroxide.
In the financial year ending March 31, 2011, the company had registered net external sales (excluding excise duty) of Rs 1,423.17 crore against Rs 1,278.08 crore in the previous year.
